♪ how to write a song ♪

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons

• Songwriting is abstract and personal

  • The speaker describes songwriting as “very abstract,” something they can’t fully explain how it happens.
  • There’s no single “right way” to write songs—everyone does it differently.
  • The speaker argues it’s hard to teach songwriting in a direct step-by-step way; people can learn, but the process must be internal and practiced.

• A common pop structure (but not required)

  • The speaker often writes in a typical pop pattern:
    • Verse → Pre-chorus → Chorus → Verse → Pre-chorus → Chorus → Bridge → Chorus
  • They emphasize structure is helpful, but creativity and spontaneity still matter.

• How songs start (the “tune pops into your head” phase)

  • Songs often begin with a small tune/jingle that appears spontaneously.
  • Example: “Idol Town” started in the shower with the lyric “this town will never change,” and the rest “flew out” quickly.
  • The speaker believes everyone does this at some level (making little jingles/hums/whistles), but most people don’t realize it’s the beginning of songwriting.

• Recording first drafts quickly

  • The speaker tries to capture ideas immediately (recording to a phone) because lyrics can disappear if not saved.
  • Early drafts are often:
    • gibberish/noise while preserving the melody and rhythm
    • followed later by replacing gibberish with real words

• Building structure first, then refining lyrics (the longer, “analytical” phase)

  • They first create/lock in the song’s structure (using the tune/idea).
  • Then they go back and do careful word selection:
    • deciding which words fit the melody
    • making lyrics “fit perfectly”
    • treating it like a puzzle
  • This refinement process takes a long time (weeks), even if the first draft is fast.

• Word tools and rhyming help (practical resources)

  • When stuck on a lyric or word, the speaker recommends:
    • RhymeZone to find rhymes and near rhymes
  • They note that perfect rhymes aren’t always required in music—rhymes can “seem” right when sung with the right emphasis.

• Writing vs. using instruments

  • The speaker says they don’t write with an instrument first.
    • They create the melody/lyrics by singing, then later add guitar.
  • They argue that learning an instrument helps (chords inform what can fit), but for them:
    • writing directly on guitar can limit creativity
    • can lead to more “boring” results constrained by chord progressions

• No “cheat codes,” and improvement takes time

  • There are no shortcuts to bypass years of practice.
  • They describe constantly questioning whether their work is any good, and still making bad songs.
  • They frame songwriting as like any artistic craft: you improve through repeated effort.

• Emotional purpose: songwriting as journaling

  • The speaker writes mainly as a form of emotional processing, not to impress others or build an album.
  • Lyrics help clarify feelings:
    • “it takes me writing a song to be like… that’s what I was feeling”
  • They advise writing for yourself first; personal meaning tends to connect with others because humans share similar struggles.

• How to structure practice and idea capture

  • The speaker encourages capturing:
    • random tunes/jingles/whistles/humming
    • whenever they occur
  • They claim to start 3–4 songs per day as small ideas, completing what “sticks” over the week.

• Definition of a “good song”

  • They conclude there’s no universal definition of good; music is music.
  • If the song has meaning to you, that matters most.

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Method / process (detailed bullet list)

1. Start with a spontaneous tune or snippet

   • Let a small melody/jingle enter your mind (often while showering, humming, etc.).
   • Don’t worry that you can’t explain where it came from.

2. Capture it immediately

   • Record the idea into your phone (the speaker claims to have hundreds/thousands of clips).
   • This prevents losing lyrics or melody later.

3. Draft quickly—don’t force perfect lyrics at first

   • Often sing gibberish/noise to preserve melody and rhythm.
   • Keep the tune; lyrics can be replaced later.

4. Establish song structure

   • Common structure the speaker uses (pop-oriented):
     • Verse → Pre-chorus → Chorus → Verse → Pre-chorus → Chorus → Bridge → Chorus
   • The key is to organize the melody into recognizable sections/patterns.

5. Go back and refine lyrics (the long part)

   • Rework words on top of the existing structure.
   • Carefully choose words based on fit, flow, and “perfect” alignment with the melody.
   • Treat it like solving a puzzle.

6. Use external tools when stuck

   • If you can’t find the right word:
     • use RhymeZone
     • consider near rhymes (important in sung music)
   • Look up synonyms/meaning-related info when needed.

7. Add instrumentation after the core is written

   • The speaker’s habit:
     • write melody/lyrics first by singing
     • later add guitar chords/musical backing
   • They believe this preserves creativity better than writing directly on guitar.

8. Iterate over time

   • First draft may take minutes; refinement takes weeks.
   • Expect revisions, uncertainty, and imperfect early outputs.

9. Keep the intention personal

   • Write to process feelings/journal for yourself first.
   • Then share later if you want—your best work often comes from personal meaning.

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Speakers / sources featured

• Speaker: The YouTube creator/host (name not provided in the subtitles) who discusses their songwriting process and references their own song “Idol Town.”
• Referenced external resource: RhymeZone (website/tool for finding rhymes and near rhymes).